Ducati Monster Forum

Best sport bike for a short guy that is sub $10k new or used.

Go. . .


sac


/spent my lunch hour looking at manufacturer's websites
//was left with a hole in my soul

Either used or Japanese are the options.

I would recommend a pre loved 996/8. I've been told the 999 is super heavy.

If you're looking for new, then the Japanese bikes are pretty much the same.

Anyone have a bmw f 650 gs? Can a short guy ride one?

sac

You're not shorter than me.

I sat on a new gsxr600(not sure what MY it was), but it wasn't really any higher than my SV.

F800R and Street Triple are both do-able for me.  If you are thinking inline 4, the GSX-Rs are the shortest.  How short are we talking?

That's not a sport bike.  ???

GSXR for a short guy, CBR 600rr could work as well... R6 is a bit tall for me  (5'7")

I know. I'm really reaching for something that will peak my interest. Dual sports are even on the table at this point.

I'm even eyeing a bonneville for christ's sake!


sac

Sigh.


Do I really want a Japanese 600? It certainly fits the budget. And they are reliable and ready to ride out of the box.

sac

How about a Daytona 675?

...or a Ducati 748? You can get a very nice one for well under 10K. They really aren't that tall. You get used to the height anyway.

Hey Sac there's nowt wrong with a bonneville..  [bang]  and they are very good value.. [clap] [clap]

 [coffee]

Hyosung.










 ;D

My brother in law has a 749 with 200 miles on it. I did not miss a zero or two there. It has been rotting away in his garage since he bought it. If he would be willing to sell it to me for what it is worth I would take it off of his hands and get it in working order again. But I think he would think that he would be selling his manhood along with that bike.

Its too much bike for me anyway. Though I trust myself not to be stupid on it until I can ride it better.

sac

 I hate you.





I hate you more.


 [cheeky]


sac

Haha yea you're right. Why should you buy a bike that is the perfect fit. Better to buy something that needs a ton of parts and breaks down constantly... OH WAIT...

The light weight of the Daytona looks really appealing. Adjustable suspension front and rear, four piston calipers.

Hmmmmm . . . some decent deals to be had on used models too.

I'm intrigued.

sac

Agreed 08-09 for 5-6k is not hard to find.

Anybody wanna buy an '05 m620 with very low miles?   ;D


sac

For the right price minus a dmf'er discount  [moto]

Daytonas are nice, and they look cool.  [thumbsup]

I did a track day at Miller with a guy who had one a couple years ago (when I had my 848)...my 848 with Temis would pull it down the LONG straights, but just barely. They have good power.  [thumbsup]

749...Daytona... So > 100hp is ok now?  ;)

<--------5'3" and I ride an 1198s.  And you think you are short? :o

Impossible!! Do you jump out a 2nd story window to mount the bike or do you use a step ladder??

What about at lights?? How the HELL do you put your feet down? I'm 5" taller than you and I'm too small for an 1198.

Trade the 620 for the 749.... [evil]
It's not too much bike for you, I've ridden with you. 

You get a badass bike you can grow along with and improve your techique, your brother-in-law's manhood remains intact because he still has a Dark Ducati in the garage.

If he's just gonna let it sit there, he might as well NOT ride a 620 and let the 749 be ridden..

Besides, Mel would look good on the back of the 749...   ;)

Just say'n...   :-*




[bacon]

pictures for proof?  I dont care how ugly you are, i just gotta see this  [cheeky]

pedrobot manages okay (most times) and he's like 3'9" and rocks an rc211v

go with the 749, it's a fun ride

See... There, it's settled.  ;)

Try out the 749 while he's out.  If it's too tall for you (you'll know if it is...), look elsewhere.  If it's ok...  make an offer.  Worst he can do is say 'no'.

BTW, a Street-Triple is a great bike, but I wouldn't buy one...  I'd get an older 675 Daytona and strip the bodywork, fab up a pair of round headlights and no-one would know the difference.

PM sent BTW...  [thumbsup]

only if you're trying to flat-foot both feet at the same time. expecting that on a sportbike is a setup for disappointment.

No kidding, but at 5'3" putting down one foot would result in the bike lying on its side.

Actually, I'm struggling with this. I really don't need a bike with that much power. But there is now way I can upgrade the 620 to have the suspension, brakes and lighter rotational mass of a bike like the Daytona for what it would cost me to sell the 620 and apply that to something like a used entry level SBK. The power is actually the only thing I don't like about the Daytona. Its narrow and light and has decent adjustable suspension. That's what attracts me. 120+ hp is a bit off putting.

But that's only because I'm a huge pussy.   :)

sac

I think I'm not going to pursue the 749. M's brother is kind of shady. Not the kind of guy you do business with. We don't want anything to go south so I'm not going to pursue it.

But the more I think about it the harder time I have justifying sinking a bunch of money into the 620. Its a great bike and I have a blast on it, but I want better suspension and a little more pull out of the corners when I go in a gear too high.

The Daytona seems to be calling me. I'm scared. Hold me.

sac

If possible, test ride any and all bikes on your want list.

Carl, may I call you Carl?  I had a similar issue with my Monster.  It was getting long in the tooth, and not worth upgrading.  I began to look at SBK's.  I tried them all and found that the 1198s had the best fit.  And yes I am small, so reach, stand over, and control was an issue.  I doubt very seriously I would of purchased one if I would be in such "danger".

Getting a bike with great brakes, and a suspension tuned to suit your riding style as well as weight, height, and in some cases temperment make an SBK feel like a dream ride.

No, I don't jump out of windows of buildings to get "on board" my red bike [cheeky] [clap]  That one made me laugh.

Derby--shame on you for getting "preachy", it is me, Eileen, I changed my screen name and you "called out the wrong gal" :-* [moto]


Come along and join the party Carl, we would love to ride with you [moto]

I bet you could find a good used 749 or 748.  I've heard good things about the Daytona also.

As long as you use good judgment when you ride, I don't see a problem.  You just won't be able to whack open the throttle coming out of a corner, just a gentle roll is needed...

I know how you ride.  You're a lot smarter than I am.  You'll do just fine...  ;)

I'm sure our mutual friend in Albuquerque has plenty of good advice.

Oh, and a big +1 to not doing business with shady Italians!   [thumbsup]






 [bacon]

>:( I am both italian and sitting in the shade at the moment, therefore I resent this comment.


Go for the 675..

Veloce-Fino... I'm Italian too.. Originally from the Bronx, though I now reside in SoCal.  Sac's wife is Italian as well and they are both very close friends of mine. I've got members of my family that I don't associate with because of their choice of, umm, lifestyle. 

If you're sitting in the shade, you aren't a shady Italian, you're a shaded Italian.

If you are the Italian providing the shade, you're a shading Italian.

Either way, my comment doesn't apply to you unless you have less-than-reputable dealings..   ;)

I was making a joke at my friends' expense...  No offense meant towards you.   [wine]

...now go get me a prosciutto sammich!    [laugh]



[bacon]

Peace on you too you son of a pregnant dog!

 ;)


sac

ahh.... delicious.

Prosciutto, capicola, sopressata, some sharp provolone.... it's 2am and I want a sandwich now.

FTR. I'm standing under a tree completing a less-than-reputable transaction with a person shorter than I who is shaded by my presence standing over them.

So I am extremely offended on all accounts.  ;)

... I'm going back to Italia!

 ;D


Oh, I see you know Sac Duc too!  [laugh]

But if it's 2am, what are you shading him from, a friggin' streetlight?  :-*

 8)

 [bacon]

ANYWAY . . .

Stew suggested a Super Sport. I'm open to that idea. But I hear that the forks on the SS models are just pieces of shit. I really want the experience of good suspension with my next bike.

Opinions?


sac

Mmmmm...  97-99 900ss   [drool]

I've seen a few for sale.  Compared to a superbike, the forks might not be all that, but compared to the stock forks on a 620 Dark, they're an upgrade for sure! 


(http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/josephvman/P1011262.jpg)

Or... the Half Fairing

(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g216/filgen19/1994%20Ducati%20900ss%20cr/4c9c347d.jpg)


 [moto]



 [bacon]

^^^^^ Or mod one to your liking.


(http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/Ducshop001-2.jpg)

(http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/Ducshop002-2.jpg)

(http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/Ducshop006.jpg)

(http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/Ducshop008-1.jpg)

(http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/Ducshop005-1.jpg)

Excellent name for someone who rides a SBK.

 ;D

Not really. I ride my buddies KTM like that (37" seat height).




Sac, some of the lightweight smaller dual sports might do it for you-they tend to have decent suspension, are very light, and flickable. Also the height is a bit more manageable with a lighter bike. I've been considering one of these:

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=321921&highlight=husaberg (http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=321921&highlight=husaberg)

A Husaberg, which would be about 260 lbs and around 60 HP. Weeee.

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2010/11/aprilia-rs4-125-coming-to-america-make the beast with two backs-yeah/ (http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2010/11/aprilia-rs4-125-coming-to-america-make the beast with two backs-yeah/)

nuff said!

word filter pwned you

fix your settings then...it pwned you, not me....

sweet, didn't know the word filter could be turned off  [thumbsup]

/end threadjack

miss ya, girly!  ;D

Nope. My wife is 5'-4" and she rode my 848 quite easily. She has also sat on many 1098/1198 without any problems (not just sat on it...picked it up like she was at a light).

You gotta be pretty damn short to be "too small" for a SBK...they're not big (or heavy) bikes. It's all in your head.

I'm 5'-8" and I have yet to sit on a bike that I thought was too tall to ride. The Buell Ulysses was close, as was the pre-2009 KTM Adventure 990...but I could have ridden them. Hell, I owned an '05 BMW 1200GS for a while and did fine (I did get tired of the weight though).

Sac...get whatever bike you want...you can ride them.  [thumbsup]

I think this would be just about perfect.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/mcy/2034164529.html (http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/mcy/2034164529.html)

I have to disagree with you...I think it has to do with inseam, not overall height...if someone is 5' 8'' and has a 31'' inseam, they have no problem, but some of the height challenged folks ( moreso seemingly with women) are more inclined to be less leggy and more torso...

Possibly for the taller adventure bikes (I have a 32 inseam). SBKs just aren't that tall in general though. If my 5'4" wife can ride one, almost anyone can.

I just think most people psyche themselves out about bike height. If you can get both toes down on a bike then you can ride that bike...albeit with a little more care when stopping.

I'd make a fair offer for the 749.  It's a beautiful bike.  He's not using it anyway.  You could show BIL how to use it (the 749, not his manhood) the way it was meant to be.  To have it (either) sit unused is a total waste.

Ciao!

Dude it breaks my heart to see such a beautiful machine just rotting away like that. My boss has six burner viking range similarly rotting away in his warehouse. I could use the bloody hell out of both of those machines. Instead they rot. This world is a dumb place.

But its just not worth it to open the potential can of worms with the BIL. Dealing with family can be tricky sometimes.

Cheers.

sac

FWIW...I know a woman about 4'9" that rides an SS (early vintage).

You'd never think she could swing a leg over, and the bike is already in motion when she actually does, but she has no issues starting or stopping, street or track.

Motorcycling is between your ears...not your legs.

My willingness to ride hard and fast comes from what's between my legs   ;)

The ability however, is definitely between the ears..

+1 I stand on 1 leg on my track SS. It's a pregnant dog to get used to, but once you get your mindset right it feels as natural as anything else.

It really sounds like you want a SV560 with an upgraded suspension - less power than the I4 600s, more handling ability than the monster.  But I like the Daytona, so here's me tenderly holding you.  Shhhhhh....

But, here's an idea though.
http://www.fischer1.com/specs.htm (http://www.fischer1.com/specs.htm)

Carbureted Hyosung motor, but has nice suspension bits.  Puts out less than 100hp, 31.5" seat height.  I think these go for about 8k.

You're using the wrong head.

Your ability should exceed your willingness. ;)

Wise words, I'll arrange a meeting between my "heads" to deliberate.

That, for some reason, sounds so very wrong.

a CAM member "Lars" has been to his facility and said he was surprised at how hospitable and clean and well organized they were....looked on paper as good as they looked in person ( if not better ).

;)

I stand squarely in the intersection where lack of willingness to go fast and inability meet. 

It's a bit lonesome... :'(

Yet I ride a MONSTA!   [evil]

Man up sac !

Face your Demons .

Get a real man's bike and quit fretting about it.

Are you going to be a pussy all your life ?

Having b*lls the size of peas doesn't mean you can't ride a big boy's bike.

Buy a nice used......

(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn198/DoubleEagle_photo/MyS4Rs009.jpg)

Like the Shoe company says " Just do it ! "

Dolph     (http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn198/DoubleEagle_photo/thumbup.gif)

Oh no. My manhood has been challenged by a stranger on the internet. Whatever shall I do? Someone I will never meet called me a pussy. My whole world is crushed. This changes everything. Perhaps I shouldn't take a long term approach to motorcycling, slowly and safely improving my skills. I should get a huge displacement bike that is well above my riding ability. Screw riding ability! I can make up for that with horse power! Yes! Yes, then I would have "balls." And strangers all over the internet would be impressed by the size of them. It would then be my god given right to point at anyone who has a bike even 1hp less than mine and scream "Man up!" Sure people might call me a total douchebag for comments like that, but that would only be because they are jealous of my "real man's" bike. And when I inevitably push my big boy bike past my riding ability and crash, the crackling of rib and popping of internal organs will remind me that my demons have been vanquished. During my recovery I will have a snappy little platitude to help me push aside any lesson I might have learned. Instead of thinking that perhaps I should take a step back and relearn some basics, I will Just Do It!

That's just make the beast with two backsing brilliant! Thanks for your thoughtful and well reasoned post. It really made me think about . . . blah blah blah . . . piss off.


In other news, I think I've pretty well decided on an old 900SS. Though a Daytona 675 is still in the running if a great deal finds me. Thanks to everyone who offered constructive advice. Particularly Duck-Stew.



sac

 [laugh] Lighten up man, I'm pretty sure he was just giving you a hard time. At least that's how I read it.  :P

Unless you just like old Superports, I'd go with the 675. It's going to handle better and likely be more comfortable. But...those old SSs are cool. Can't go wrong either way.  [thumbsup]

He was being serious in a funny way. Me too. That is all. I'm probably just being more of a snarky prick about it. So it goes.

The appeal of the SS is looks, the fewer ponies than the 675, and the way it makes the power. I do so love the torquey goodness of ducati's twins. Plus they can be had for a good price.

sac

personally, I think you should find yourself a nice older late 90's VFR...it is an upgrade...it is cheap...it is dead bulletproof reliable...and it isn't a bike that is super ridiculous in any way...

but a 95-98 SS900 ain't a bad ride either!

I test rode a 675 today. Was not imprssed. I guess I'm too enamored with twins to easily jump on the triple.

sac, I'm not implying you ride the S4Rs like I would ride it !

Just because it has the power doesn't mean you have to be on the the redline all the time.

You can learn how to ride a bike that has all the proper suspenion parts and handles excellent ...you just don't twist the throttle so hard as to overwhelm your current skill level until you are more comfortable with turning up the speed.

Comfort, Torque , great Brembo brakes, and Ohlins suspension w, the S4Rs plus a more handsome bike was never made.

You can ride a " big boy bike "  but just not in a big boy way until you gain confidenc and that will come w, time and miles.

In the mean time you will be riding a beautiful Duc.

Dolph     (http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn198/DoubleEagle_photo/ride.gif)

Happy to hear you have decided on the SS. You can't go wrong with them they are a great bike.
I still have mine if you want to come take a look and take it around the block.

but the stories you would post here about riding your expensive toys into the hedges would be so eloquent and insightfull.

right back at ya  ;D

I double dog dare you to take the 1098r to a racetrack instead of hiding on the street.    [beer]

<sorry for the threadkack, sac>

Luckily I'm not a homophobe because all of this prick waving would really disturb me if I were.

sac